"Hinokami Kagura: Fire Wheel!"
Tanjiro's Nichirin Sword blazed forward, wrapped in roaring flames like a speeding fire train, slashing straight toward Akaza's face.
But Akaza only tilted his body slightly. His right hand shot out faster than lightning, seizing Tanjiro's wrist in a crushing grip.
"Is this all you can do?"
His fingers tightened. A stabbing pain shot through Tanjiro's arm—his bones felt like they were being ground to dust.
Tanjiro tried to pull free, but Akaza's hold was unbreakable. The next moment, Akaza swung his arm violently and hurled him into a nearby crumbling wall.
Boom!
The wall collapsed instantly. Tanjiro was buried beneath the rubble, blood seeping out through the cracks. Even his groans were faint, barely audible.
"Pathetic humans," Akaza said coldly, withdrawing his hand. "You're so weak it disgusts me. Not even worth a real punch."
"Tanjiro! Damn it!"
Tō's voice cut through the air as streaks of blue-green light shot forward from the side.
"Storm Breathing, Fourth Form: Breaking Waves Sky Slash!"
The slash tore through the air like a raging wind striking the surface of water, aiming to draw Akaza's attention.
But Akaza didn't even glance back. His left foot kicked out behind him with a sharp, whistling sound, slamming straight into Tō's chest.
Thud!
Blood burst from Tō's mouth as his body was thrown backward like a broken kite, crashing into a stone wall. The impact left a deep dent, and his Nichirin Sword clattered to the ground amid a cloud of dust.
He struggled to move, pain flooding his chest, but even lifting a finger felt impossible. All he could do was watch as Akaza turned toward the last one still standing.
Only Rengoku Kyojuro remained, still upright, still burning bright.
He gripped his sword tightly, orange-red flames surging up the blade. Even against Akaza's overwhelming power, his gaze showed no trace of fear—only unyielding determination.
Akaza's golden eyes glimmered with faint interest. "Tell me your name, human. I'd like to remember it."
"Rengoku Kyojuro!"
Kyojuro's voice boomed like thunder, shaking the air itself.
"My name is Akaza," the Upper Moon replied, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Kyojuro, you have strong will and strength. But if you stay human, time will devour you. Become a demon instead."
He stepped closer, his voice filled with twisted persuasion. "As a demon, you'll break free from mortal limits—gain eternal life and endless power. You'll never have to fear age or death again. You can chase perfection forever. Your swordsmanship will never fade, your reflexes will never dull. Become a demon, Kyojuro!"
It was Akaza's obsession—his hunger to turn the strong into eternal companions in the pursuit of strength.
"Ridiculous!"
Kyojuro's voice roared back, the fire on his sword blazing even hotter.
"The worth of humanity isn't in eternal life—it's in our will to fight for what we hold dear! Even if I age, even if I die, I'll never become a demon! I'll never betray my own soul!"
Akaza's expression hardened. His fists clenched, and dark energy swirled around him like smoke.
"Then die here. I'll show you how meaningless human resolve is before absolute strength!"
With that, Akaza lunged forward, his punch carrying the power to shatter mountains.
But Kyojuro was ready. From the instant Akaza moved, he had already begun to read him—analyzing his rhythm and patterns.
Akaza's strength came from his fists: direct, explosive, and brutal. His energy formed a barrier around him, deflecting normal sword strikes.
Kyojuro's eyes burned with focus. He tightened his grip on his flaming blade—ready to face the storm head-on.
"Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"
Kyojuro's Nichirin Sword spun in his hands, igniting a blazing vortex of fire that swallowed Akaza's fists whole. The flames roared, their heat scorching his skin—but Akaza didn't flinch. With a violent surge of power, his punch tore straight through the swirling fire and shot toward Kyojuro's face.
"Such strength!"
Kyojuro's heart tightened. He twisted aside just in time—the punch grazed his cheek, the gust of heat burning away strands of his hair.
He pivoted with the motion, his blade arcing upward in a blaze. "Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
The slash climbed like a blazing staircase, aimed to cleave through Akaza's arm. But Akaza turned his wrist, his forearm's aura hardening into a shield. He blocked the strike and drove his other fist down onto Kyojuro's shoulder.
Bang!
The blow sent Kyojuro sliding backward several meters, his shoulder throbbing red and swollen. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"I'm not done yet!"
He didn't retreat. His sword flared again as he charged, flames raining down like a storm.
"Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku!"
The attack burst forth in a sea of fire, its heat distorting the air. Akaza vanished behind the inferno, completely engulfed.
A flicker of surprise passed through Akaza's eyes, quickly replaced by excitement. "That's more like it! Show me everything you've got, Kyojuro!"
Energy erupted from him in waves. His fists smashed through the flames one after another, scattering embers as he tore a path straight through the fiery ocean.
In an instant, he was before Kyojuro again. His fist hurtled forward, aiming straight for his heart. "Feel it—this is the power of a demon!"
Kyojuro's pupils contracted. He crossed his Nichirin Sword in front of him.
Clang!
The impact bent the blade. The force rippled through his arms, numbing them completely as he dropped to one knee. The ground beneath him cracked from the pressure, and his flames flickered, dimming slightly.
"What's wrong, Kyojuro? Is this your limit?"
Akaza sneered and swung again. "I thought you'd last longer!"
Kyojuro gritted his teeth, lifting his head, fire flaring back to life in his eyes. "I haven't lost yet! Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
His sword became a roaring tiger of fire, leaping upward to slash across Akaza's jaw.
Akaza hadn't expected such a counter. The attack caught him by surprise, searing a shallow burn across his chin.
"Interesting!"
Excitement surged through him. His strikes grew even faster, heavier, relentless. Each punch was wrapped in energy, hammering down on Kyojuro.
Step by step, the Flame Hashira was forced back. Blood streaked his haori, his breathing ragged. Yet even as his strength waned, his grip on his blade never loosened. He met every strike head-on, refusing to fall.
Then—Akaza saw an opening. His fist slammed straight into Kyojuro's chest.
Crack!
Kyojuro spat blood. His sword flew from his grasp, clattering to the ground as his body collapsed, unmoving. His chest caved inward—his ribs shattered. His breath was faint, a flickering flame in the wind.
"It's over, Kyojuro," Akaza said quietly.
"I'll give you one more chance. Become a demon. Stand beside me, and we'll chase strength together."
"I… refuse…"
"How disappointing."
Akaza crouched down beside him, extending his hand toward Kyojuro's chest. "Even so, your strength earns my respect. I'll make your death quick."
Just as his fingers were about to close around Kyojuro's heart, a black shadow dropped from above.
Whirl—boom!
A massive spiked flail on a long iron chain slammed down like a meteor, aimed straight for Akaza's head.
Akaza's eyes widened. He twisted away, the flail smashing into the ground with a deafening crash, tearing open a crater and scattering rubble in every direction.
Golden eyes flicked toward the source of the attack. A smile crept across his face. "Another member of the Demon Slayer Corps? Who's next?"
On the distant rooftop, a tall, broad-shouldered man rose to his full height. He gripped the chain of the flail tightly, his presence calm yet immovable—like stone itself.
The one who had arrived in silence, under orders from Oyakata-sama to guard the Flame Hashira in secret—
was the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei.